Thursday, February 27, 2014

Sizzling Pages had the pleasure of meeting Ethan and Brynne Blackstone, the adorable couple from ‘The Blackstone Affair’ and their creator, Raine Miller.

Our Interview

SP - Thank you for taking the time to chat with us
today. Raine, congratulations on your success with the series. We are looking forward to your new release
“Rare and Precious Things”. What
inspired you to write this series and what drew you to these characters?

RM - Thank you for having me. The
original story of Ethan and Brynne came to me very suddenly, and all because I
found the image I used on the cover of the first book, Naked. Then, as the books were written, the story
unfolded and new characters were introduced, more ideas come to me as to
storyline, and it all just sort of grows organically.

SP - Any hints on future releases you have planned?
Will there be spin-off love stories involving the characters of Ivan, Gabby or
Benny? Perhaps a historical romance about Lady Percival?

RM - YES! The next project will be Ivan and Gabrielle’s
love story. I’ve made it very clear that
those two get together. Readers will see
a great deal of Benny in the pages of their book, called PRICELESS. As to your other
question about more historicals, yes, to that as well. I have a linked book to PRICELESS entitled THE MUSE, that
I hope to release at the same time. I’ve
also written a large portion of Lady Percival’s book already, and she will be a
side character in THE MUSE. Her name is Claire, and I am excited to bring
her story to light.

SP - Ethan, are you ready to open up to Brynne and
share everything that has happened to you during your time in the service and
captivity? Are you still suffering from the nightmares? Do you believe that in revealing your dark
secrets to Brynne, she can help heal your emotional wounds?

Ethan - *raises an eyebrow and flashes a
hard glare* “Do you really think, that
even one of your questions, has the remotest chance of being answered?” *draws Brynne’s hand onto his lap and rubs
the top of it with his thumb*

(He’s sexier when annoyed – wow)

SP - Brynne, Ethan, when did you first realize you
were truly in love?

Brynne - I realized I loved Ethan
unconditionally, once he showed me he loved me the same way in return. After our break-up, when I needed to be alone,
he gave me space, and let me know he still wanted me. Then, after I told him about my past, and
when he said that it changed nothing about how he felt inside for me, I knew.

Ethan - I realized I loved her when she
walked out of my office after hearing the phone call from her father. I told her then, how I felt. *shifts in his seat, moving closer to Brynne*

SP - Congrats on the upcoming addition to your
family. How were you feeling during your
pregnancy, Brynne? Any crazy
cravings? Was Ethan doting over you MORE
than usual?

Brynne - Chicken tacos with avocado
and corn salsa. I felt pretty good
actually, and Ethan is always doting with me.
He spoils me terribly. *smiles
over at Ethan*

SP - Ethan, you were pretty shocked when
discovering Brynne was ‘preggers’. How
do you feel about becoming a dad? Any plans on expanding the Blackstone clan
further?

Ethan- *puts his hand up to stop the
question* “Let’s just get through this
delivery, please.”

SP - Brynne, are you
planning to continue your work/study at the art conservancy at the University
of London? Will you still be modeling?

Brynne
- I will definitely be continuing with my studies at UoL. I intend to work in my field some day. As for the modeling, I can’t say what will
happen there.

SP -Ethan, how do you
feel if Brynne continues to pose for risqué photographs?

Ethan - *Shakes
head at the question*

SP - Brynne, what do you love most about your
husband? And, what about him grates on
your last nerve?

Brynne - His honesty. *just smiles*

SP - Your turn E… What is it about Brynne that
makes you tingle? What rattles your cage?

Ethan - Many things about Brynne make me
tingle, but if I told you she would start blushing and probably get angry.

SP - Brynne, what was the most romantic thing Ethan
has done?

Brynne - Probably when he proposed to
me in his mother’s garden. I love the
ring he chose for my wedding ring too.
Vintage…and beautiful.

SP - What was the sexiest, most sensual moment you
two shared? Don’t skip any details.

SP - Raine, the tragic events, which occurred
involving Brynne’s father, were heartbreaking.
Was it pivotal to the story line to shatter Brynne’s heart once again?

RM - I felt it was required, and in
this case, was the sacrifice made.
Nobody gets the fantasy dream where everything is perfect, and so
stories like that won’t ever be written by me.

SP - Which is your favorite scene between Brynne
and Ethan? The most sizzling, erotic scene?

RM - One of my favorites is in Naked
when Ethan stalks her at the night club and the tension is very high between
them. She gets snarky with him and asks
if he stalks all his dates. Ethan bites
back: “Oh, we’re well past you being just a date, my beauty. When
we fucked in my bed you moved into uncharted territory. Trust me on that one.” Then he takes her
home, says some more filthy stuff to her in the car, and they have hot wall
sex. Yup, that’s my favorite.

SP - What part was the most difficult to write?

RM - That would probably be the whole
beginning of Eyes Wide Open when they are discovering that she is
pregnant.

SP - Raine, will you delve deeper into Ethan’s past
and uncover more of his secrets?

RM - All will be revealed about
Ethan’s past. The reader will know
everything that happened to him in Afghanistan.

SP - David Gandy is often associated with Ethan’s
character. They are both suave, debonair,
charismatic and devilishly handsome men. Was that by design? Was he your muse?

RM - He was absolutely my muse from
the first page of writing. Physically
only, of course, but yes. I’d followed
Mr. Gandy for a couple years and knew who he was. I figured I’d write a hero based off him some
day, and when I started writing Ethan Blackstone, he looked just like him. LOL

SP - Who do you envision playing the role of
Brynne?

RM - Someone like Cameron Russell.

SP - Ethan is known for his sexy pillow talk. We love a flirty-dirty talker. What inspired
you to write his dialogue? Is there a ‘real’ dirty talker in your life?

RM - Not like him. But, yeah, I like my heroes to be gentlemen
in public, and filthy in private.

SP - What can we expect in “Rare and Precious
Things? Will crazy exs enter the storyline to disrupt the happy couple?

RM - Maybe.

SP - How is Simba?
Will we see more of him?

RM - Simba will be getting a
girlfriend.

Thank you for spending time with us. Raine, it’s
been a pleasure. Brynne, you look absolutely radiant and Ethan… ehem, you are
even more handsome in person. You’re quite the looker, Blackstone. Brynne, you are one lucky girl ;) Hope you enjoyed our little sit down. We look forward to seeing more of you in
“Rare and Precious Things”.

*Ethan helps Brynne up from her chair,
and gives a nod and a curt “thanks”.

“Thank you, for having us,” Brynne
says with a smile.

New Release

"Rare and Precious Things”

My beautiful girl let me know, and showed me, yet again, what a rarity I possessed in her love, as she had from the very first. Rare.

Brynne’s love was something rare—a gift. A precious gift I’d been given, by some divine twist of fate that had brought her into my world…and changed everything about me. About how I saw things, about what I dreamed for the future, about my capacity to move beyond the shadows of my past. Brynne’s love changed absolutely everything.

Synopsis

Fresh from an idyllic honeymoon along the Italian coast, the Blackstones prepare for the birth of their precious baby and the challenges of settling into a new home. But things get complicated when specters from the past reappear to threaten the very foundation of their relationship. Ethan and Brynne will have to fight harder than ever for each other. Rare and Precious Things is the story of two people who both need the other in order to be complete, but learn just how "rare" their brand of love is when they have to risk everything in order to hold onto it.

Our Reviews

Series Recap

“Naked”

Synopsis

Brynne Bennett is living the good life. An American art student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s putting her life back on track with school and lots of hard work. When ultra successful London businessman, Ethan Blackstone, buys her nude portrait, he isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. He wants Brynne in his bed and makes plans to keep her there no matter what. His dominant nature captivates and ensnares despite the demons she carries inside her. But there are secrets in this relationship. Huge ones. Can Ethan free Brynne from the past that has marked her? Will Brynne let him or will the specters tormenting her resurface to destroy them both.

Our Reviews

"All In"

Synopsis

Secrets have destroyed the passionate relationship between Brynne and Ethan, but Ethan is determined to do whatever it takes to win his girl back and protect her from the things that can keep them apart forever. Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who’s willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

Our Reviews

"Eyes Wide Open"

Synopsis

Big surprises are on the horizon for Ethan and Brynne as they struggle to adjust to what life has thrown at them. Demons from the past are threatening to destroy the passionate bond they’ve forged despite their vow that nothing will ever keep them apart. A truly devastating loss coupled with the promise of a new hope opens their eyes to what is most important, but is it possible for the lovers to move on from the painful histories that continue to haunt them? A stalker is still lurking in the shadows, plotting evil amidst the distraction of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Brynne and Ethan are on the cusp of losing everything as the stakes rise. Will they yield to circumstances beyond their control or will they give every ounce of fight they have left to save each other and win the ultimate prize of a life together?

Our Reviews

“Cherry Girl”

Synopsis

Blackstone Affair spin-off, yet can be a standaloneElaina Morrison has loved Neil McManus her whole life. She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him. Through heartbreaking tragedy and years of separation, her love holds true…until life stomps all over her heart, shattering her perfect dream, teaching her how hard it is to let go.Real life doesn’t have anything on romantic dreams though, as these two have learned repeatedly. It sucks big time, leaving painful scars in its wake.But Neil isn’t giving up. He’s endured years of longing and sacrifice to wait for her. Always a soldier, he knows his way around a battlefield, and winning Elaina is no different. So that’s precisely what Neil is going to do. He'll go in fighting, and make Elaina see what he already knows.That she will forever be his Cherry Girl.

Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it's a safe bet she'll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine's stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A part-time teacher and writer of sexy romance stories every other chance she gets pretty much fills her days. She has a handsome prince of a husband, and two brilliant sons to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books. You can contact her at raine_miller@ymail.com or visit www.RaineMiller.com to find out what she's working on now.